Celeste: 2 Years, In Her Words

On May 13, 2014, my life made a 360 degree turn! I was working in my office with a colleague at Reliant Rehabilitation of Dallas. I stood up to drink a cup of water and the cup dropped, my right side of my face drooped & my right arm was oscillating without control. My mind yelled, “ALERT! SOMETHING IS WRONG!!” but I couldn’t say a word.

I was transferred to Medical City of Dallas immediately via ambulance. I had an embolic stroke (actually 2 blood clots) in the left hemisphere of my brain. In the ER, they administered tPA (Tissue Plasminogen Activator) to dissolve the clots to improve blood flow in the middle carotid artery. One of the clots was “stubborn” I guess and I had brain surgery (intracranial angioplasty and stenting).

I woke up in ICU in silence and had right sided hemiparesis (right arm was flaccid (no muscle tone) and sensation deficits. I have Apraxia (oral motor speech) and Aphasia (express & understand language). After my stroke, I couldn’t read, speak, nor form sentences. Thank GOD my spelling and memory was intact to write simple words to express my needs.

I am a Physical Therapist practicing over 20 years and my position before the stroke was Chief Therapy Officer managing staff, hospital policies and rehab patients/families. I transferred to Baylor Dallas inpatient for a week for all therapy disciplines (Physical (PT), Occupational (OT) and Speech (ST)) then Pate Rehabilitation (Anna location) outpatient for ST for 8 months. My discharge from Pate was January 28, 2015 and I was a little torn. I was sad to leave my “safe place”, happy because my speech was better and scared to jump into life again!

I gained more Faith in GOD and more fight for my life and my daughter, Tylar. A lot of crying (an emotional battle) during my storm but those tears were a symbol that I’m thankful & humbled because GOD shielded and blessed me with a strong support group…family and friends! I didn’t work for nearly a year and gradually started PT per diem then full time in June 2015. GOD IS GOOD!! I joined B.I.N.D. last year as a volunteer to connect with brain injury survivors and to increase awareness & knowledge in the community. Brain Injury Network of Dallas is a bridge to build relationships, mentorship, support for survivors and their families and a platform for patient advocacy!

Celeste Larkins
Stroke Survivor May 2014

18 Comments

God is awesome!! Sis you went through this because God knew you could handle it. He trusted you to do HIS will! Celeste keep giving HIM ALL the PRAISE! Your testimony is beautiful and you are doing exactly what HE wants you to do! I’m proud of you & thankful that you are sharing your story to encourage and bless others!

Beautiful Celeste! Your story will inspire others. You are a walking testimony and also a poster child for the results of following the doctor’s orders. Hard work, dedication, and commitment will always WIN. Love ya’

What a awesome testimony to how great our God is. Celeste you are and always have been a fighter, thank God he saved you to be a blessing to others. Keep striving daily to do the unexpected. Be Blessed my sister in christ.

Truly appreciate all you have shared with me…tools on navigating and letting go of what you have no control. Much respect for a person of your character whose actions speak louder than any words. Appreciative that you won the battle with the stroke and allowed me to learn from you.

How must it feel to be a breathing, walking, talking, & LIVING miracle! To say that I have been blessed & motivated by your tenacity, dedication, & zeal for life is an understatement. Many will feel compelled to keep fighting because of your story/ testimony! Keep living, loving, & testifying about the goodness of God & proper self care, Celeste!

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About BIND

The Brain Injury Network of Dallas (BIND) provides supportive services for adult survivors of acquired brain injury and joins the gap between medical rehabilitation and independent, contributing community living.

Our mission is to provide tools and a bridge of support to adult brain injury survivors so they can reconnect into life, the community and the workplace. Our vision is to lead the DFW area in providing member-driven services and will serve as the model for Brain Injury Clubhouses across the state of Texas.